Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Next time we herf let's chat, I may have a tobacco or two you can try :r

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Say wise men, how do y'all tell the difference between tobacco?

You know, is it English, Latkia, VaPer, etc.?

I ask specifically because all I have is six baggies from Boswell's. My thanks again go out to GAW for the advice on the containers. Got them all filled and labeled. Should've put the damn labels on the side of the containers, not the lids, but whatever.

Anyway, I've got Apple Strudel, Bear Blend, Peaches and Cream, Majestic 586, Maple Leaf, and Sweet Dreams (yep, alphabetized :D). They're all ribbon cut, all brown or a little darker brown, and I want to try to avoid ghosting in my solitary tobak pipe.

How do I tell the difference, now and in the future?

I was looking here http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze...e/tobacco.html, but I'm far too n00b to know.

Thanks in advance!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Any tips for smoking a pipe with a deep bowl? I have a pipe that is 2" deep and I can never smoke the last bit without relighting every 3 puffs, I've tried everything, left the ash in, dumped it out, dumped it out and mixed it up and retamped. Is it just too wet from the rest of the smoke?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

well, most of the time people know what they are when they purchase them. hard to know when they're given to you unless you have had experience and heard of them before.
with names like: maple leaf; peaches and cream; apple strudel; sweet dreams, they sound a lot like Aromatics.

www.tobaccoreviews.com has blend descriptions as well.
here's a link to Boswells tobaccos.

Apple Strudel = or is it apple cobbler? either way, it's not flavored with banana. ;)
Bear Blend = Virginia w/ Cherry Carmel flavoring
majestic 586 = burley, virginia, toasted cavendish... doesn't say it's sweetened and nobody has reviewed it yet
maple leaf = maple and vanilla added to cavendish
peaches and cream = peach flavoring added to black cavendish
sweet dreams = virginia and cavendish flavored with "food flavorings that J.M. likes to experiment with."

to smoke right away?? if it's moistened from the steam that drains down from the smoked tobacco above it, it would have to dry out before you could re-light it.
it happens... "dottle" is a favorite word of mine. ;)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Thanks Curly! Just gonna go with the flow and enjoy it. I've got a feeling they're all similar enough that it doesn't matter.

And FWIW, Bear Blend has a nice little nic kick for a newbie. Had a couple shakes after smoking a pinch of it, but I feel alert, and some of my back pain actually eased up...interesting, really.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Alright, true NOOB here...

SO I have a Dr. Gabrow Duke bent pipe (I took out the filter) that I smoke occationally. I enjoy the aromatic tobacco that I got at my local B&M, but have yet to get down the 'technique' to true pipe smoking.

Tonight I lit up a bowl, and it tasted odd, had a super loose draw (tobacco flakes were getting in my mouth, yuk!), and something made a crackling sound while I was smoking... I realize I probably need to learn the proper way of smoking, but what caused this bad smoke tonight?? Is it the pipe or me?

I appreciate any help!

aj

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Are there any issues (aside from nose ice cycles, and that funny teeth chattering noise) from smoking a pipe in sub-freezing temperatures?

I'll be heading up to north Idaho to visit my inlaws soon, and my FIL and I usually smoke cigars year round despite the cold winters. Should I stick to cigars while wearing 3 layers of clothes and huddling around the patio heater, or will the pipes work just as well?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

It sounds like you packed just a tad too loose. However it is always better to pack your pipe on the loose side because all you have to do is tamp it down a bit to tighten it up to where you like the draw.

To answer your more general question of is it the pipe or me I can bet that your inexperience is not helping much. I would say its more you than the pipe. Pipe smoking is a finicky activity and it takes years to master, that being said grabows aren't exactly at the higher end of quality but never the less once you start to learn the intricacies of pipe smoking it will become more enjoyable.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Temperature will effect the pipe smoke for sure but most likely because you are puffing like a demon due to the cold. However I don't believe it should damage your pipe in any way, you just may end up with a pretty wet smoke and a bit of tongue bite.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

My ring fell off the Briar part of my pipe. See pic. Can I use crazy glue?
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...91211-1329.jpg

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

I don't see what it would hurt. I would just make sure to use it sparingly, maybe two very small drops on the inside of the ring. Then slide it on and then rotate it a quarter turn to spread out the glue.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Besides a slight-slight possible outgassing of toxics from heated cyanoacrylates I don't have best results with them when mating gapped surfaces. Constant heating/cooling and expansion/contraction would send me to something non-toxic that handles expansion better, like a drop or two of Elmers wood glue.

The expert on this, however, is not me. This is only an educated guess. Is there a pipemaker in the house?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

That is true, the "superglues" are not very flexible. I don't know how well the wood glue would bond to the metal ring though.
Maybe the Elmers Ultimate glue would be better. Claims to "bond anything to anything." (Elmers version of Gorilla Glue)
http://www.elmers.com/homerepair/ultimate/
Again use a very tiny amount of glue.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Can someone post a pic of how you store your tobacco?

Thanks.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Thanks. I am looking for more of a setup with baggies in tupperware. I don't haven enough to put into a jar. I assume you need to keep the tobacco humidified correct?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Actually, it doesn't matter if you have enough or not. The extra space isn't going to hurt. It is the seal that is important to keep whatever moisture is in, in there. I have tobaccos in jars that have no humidificaion devices - the moisture that is already in there stays... And they're cheap. (Although, if you drop them on the cement floor of your basement tobacco cellar, they will break into tiny little pieces.

I personally like my tobaccos a little drier than how they come from the tobacconist. Moist tobaccos cause tongue-bite. So, I even dry them out a bit before putting them into jars.

If I'd suggest anything, it would be not to mix you scented (aromatics and/or blends with Latakia) tobaccos with unscented tobaccos. So, a couple jars might be a good idea.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

I am interested in pipe smoking, but I haven't bought one yet. What would y'all recommend as a cheap pipe?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Start with some cheap corn cobs. They are good to "practice" on and are pretty durable. They tend not to "ghost" flavors as well.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Where do they sell them?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

www.pipesandcigars.com is a good place to start.

http://store.pipesandcigars.com/micocobme.html

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Google Missouri Meerschaum, shop around for the best price.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Thanks! On the page with the corn cob pipes there are some cheap hardwood pipes, would you still recommend the cob? Also what would be a couple of good tobaccos to try out. If cigar preference is a good indicator- I lean towards habanos.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Thanks for this link. It answered about 10 of my questions :tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Anything on that page is a good starter.
I am still a bit nooby on the pipe slope myself. Smoke more cigars than my pipes.

I started with these two.

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/macvancream.html
http://www.pipesandcigars.com/dunmix965.html


I've bought some samplers from this place. Very good stuff.

https://www.tobacco-barn.com/news.aspx?showarticle=25

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

A corncob pipe and a pouch of Carter Hall or Prince Albert can make a good starter and a good finisher. Some folks smoke nothing else. They are easy to learn with and there's plenty to enjoy. Do not underestimate the $5.00 corncob pipe - they have excellent smoking properties.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

What he said.

You can also find 4-ounce jam jars at places like WalMart and Target, etc., if you don't need the big ones. The are cheap and they are 1000x more reliable than baggies and tupperware.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

:tpd: A 4 fluid ounce jam-jar will hold an ounces (by weight) of compressed tobacco, an 8 fl. oz. jar will hold 2 oz. B.W. of compressed tobacco, and so on. Should you decide to go this route, a canning funnel comes in very handy and a scale.

I’ve found buying canning jars by the case, tobacco by the pound and dividing it into 2 ounce portions then canning it, cuts cost by about 40%.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

do certian blends smoke better in certain style pipes?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

That's one of those individual opinion things, Jason. Different people with different preferences in pipes and tobacco (and maybe more or less experience) will have different answers. There's not a "yes" or "no" to it but, still, there can be plenty to discuss.

In my opinion, yes. Sure. Sometimes. :tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Is there anything you do to a new pipe before you smoke in it? Do all pipes use screens?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

No, not really. Passing a pipe cleaner through the stem, making sure there are no obstructions before filling and smoking your pipes is a good habit to get into.

It’s a pain finding out you can’t draw through the pipe after it has tobacco in it.

Can’t speak for anyone else… I’ve never used a screen of any type in any of my tobacco pipes.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Nope no screens for me. My girlfriend likes those balsa filters.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

:tpd:

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

No screens here. Some guys use filters but that's a personal thing. There are a lot of different methods to "breaking in" a new pipe. I just smoke the type of baccy that I intend to use in that pipe. Just take the first couple bowls slow, only load 1/2.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Thanks for the info.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

I just picked up the pipe this week (so uber noob). strolled down to the local tobaconist (thank god there is a GREAT one 3 blocks away!) and picked up four 1oz bags of the first bulk blends that caught my eye in jars. Mostly aromatic names like amaretto, black&gold, cake box, and balkan 1 (that ones not so aromatic). I stayed away from the stronger stuff because I'm learning to smoke inside and don't want a stinky house :D

NOW ON TO THE QUESTION:
I can't keep the $@&^)@*%#@ thing lit! Using 3 different well broken briar pipes. Tried loose and tight loads, etc..... I just don't seem to be finding the groove. (I'm a fairly hands on kinda guy, so NOT finding the groove yet is strange to me). Is is possible that the bulk blends just have too much something or another in em to keep them moist and they'll never burn right? should I got back and pick up a few tins for trying?? If so, recommendations for a few tins? (doesn't have to be aromatic, just shouldn't stench the house too much, strong stuff will have to wait until summer).

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

mmm, and I should add that if I do manage to get it lit in such a way that it stays "lit" for more than a puff or two, its an extraordinarily thin smoke. I'm not expecting billowing clouds here... but this barely qualifies as smoke!

And I guess another similar question... ARE THERE specific tobaccos and pipe styles that lend themselves to generating great billowing clouds of smoke other than when you light them)?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

I'm going to try to answer these as best I can.
1. It takes a little while to be able to smoke through a bowl with only one light. There are several things that you can do try try and fix this.

First, let your tobacco dry out a little bit. If it is very moist from the jar, spread out a thin layer on a table top or other flat surface and let it air-dry for 10-20 mins.

Secondly, learn a method of filling your pipe. The most basic method taught to new pipers is the 1/3 Method. Take some of the air-dried tobacco in your index and thumb and fill your pipe roughly 1/3rd of the way. take you tamper and tamp down lightly. Take a somewhat larger pinch and fill the second third, then tamp again. Finally, fill the last third and tamp lightly- the tobacco should be fairly loose on top. Don't tamp it in so hard that you form a tobacco plug on top (that's a different method).

Thirdly, you need to properly light a pipe. take you lighter and rotate the flame around the top of the tobacco while taking long slow draws. Do this until you see that most of the tobacco on top has become ash or blackened. Tamp this down lightly and make sure it's even across the tobacco. (this is like toasting a cigar for example, to help it burn correctly). Now, use your lighter and bring the flame and rotate again with long slow draws until you see a nice ember glowing. and thats it! your off!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Francis, don't worry bud. I have smoked 2 bowls so far and I have the exact same problem. 2 puffs and then I have to relight :(

GreekGodX suggested I use a torch lighter instead of matches and now I get 3 good puffs instead of 2 :r

Hopefully we will get it eventually.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Some like to shine a desk light on the layer of tobacco to help dry it faster.
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...b_fixture1.gif
I like to take a small glass plate, with a couple bowls of tobacco in a thin layer, and set it on top of the toaster, letting the heat warm up the plate. Warm not hot, this speeds up the drying.
I have also read where some like to load up a couple pipes in the morning and then not smoke them until later that day. If you want a bowl in the morning, load up the pipe before bed, should be ready to smoke when you get up and about.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fa
 

Did you pop out of the womb and hit the floor running? ;) Master driving a car in 1 week? :confused:

If you can strike a match you can smoke a cigar, the pipe requires some knowledge, some practice and some patients.

Start by learning to learning to properly fill the tobacco chamber. I was taught the three step method.

1. Sprinkle, don’t pinch or stuff, sprinkle tobacco into the chamber a little at a time until there is a slight dome of tobacco above the rim of the pipe, then gently push this down so the chamber is about half full. Now puff on the pipe, there should not be any more restriction than an average cigar.
If it’s to tight, remove the tobacco and start again, with practice you’ll be able to do this by feel.

2. Sprinkle tobacco into the chamber again until there’s a slight mound above the rim of the bowl. Now press it down with a bit more pressure than the first time, this time so the chamber is three quarter filled, that’s half the volume left after step 1.

3. Sprinkle tobacco into the chamber until it’s full to the rim, this time press the tobacco down with more pressure, there should be roughly an eighth of an inch between the top of the tobacco and the rim of the bowl.

Don’t over fill the chamber or you’ll scorch the rim of the pipe when lighting it. DO NOT use a torch lighter; these are great for lighting cigars and charring the hell out of briar pipes.

The three step light is most often prescribed for the pipe novice. That’s two charring lights to toast the tobacco and form a bit of ash on top followed by the smoking light, using matches or standard flame butane lighter.

I’ve found a series of short quick puffs work better than long draws to get a pipe smoking.

Yes. It’s possible that some type of humidicant (Propylene Glycol) has been used to prevent the tobacco from drying out… or it may simply be to damp. If the tobacco is in plastic bags it will dry out soon enough. If you have the tobacco in an air tight jar (the best way to keep it), leave the lid off the jar for a couple of hours and see how it feels.

If the tobacco does not ever dry out it has been chemically treat and I’d find a better source for pipe tobacco.

You’ll also learn over time just how moist you prefer pipe tobacco, and be able to tell by feel if it needs to by dried out or hydrated.

D.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I have a noob question. Can you reuse a pipe cleaner or is it a once and done sort of thing? Along with that, can you clip off the really dirty parts and keep using or are we back to one and done?

While I know they're cheap, I don't want to be wasteful or dumb as I get this pipe smoking adventure off the ground.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

The purpose of the pipe cleaner is to get moisture out of the stem. If a pipe cleaner is dry and clean, use it again.

You can definitely do what you'd like - maybe turn it around and use the other end. In fact, give it a try - what ever you'd like.

If you use a pipe cleaner while smoking, it needs to get all the way to the bowl - and it needs to do it with the bit attached (don't remove the bit while smoking and the pipe is warm - just a word to the wise), so I doubt that can happen if you clip the dirty end off.

There is another issue about reusing a pipe cleaner while smoking, the tars and such are foul tasting if they end up on the bit an you put it in your mouth - trust me on that one.

Of course, if you clean your pipe disassembled, you may very well find your pipe cleaners can be cut in half and used that way.

Here's the deal, you gotta try it and see how it works for you.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks Rev. I'll experiment and see what works :)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I've heard that meers don't ghost, so they've been catching my eye. Is this true? It'd be nice to have a pipe that I can just try all sorts of blends in and then when I find one I really like, dedicate a briar to it. Any special needs I need to know about smoking a meer?

Thanks:D

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I'm not experienced enough to talk about the Meers, but I know that Cobbs don't ghost either. My Cobb is my go-to pipe if I want to try any new blends out.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Never had a ghost when smoking mine.
The biggest thing about using a meer is to clean the bowl really good after each use to prevent cake build up. I wipe the inside of the bowl with alcohol after each use.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Good to know, thanks:tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

No ghosts in my meers. I rarely buy something new that doesn't start in a meer for that crisp, clear picture of what it is.

I clean mine after every smoke by rubbing out the bowl with a looped bristle pipecleaner.